Softball veteran: ‘This is our year’

SOFTBALL: The Toowoomba Diamondbacks have come agonisingly close to winning the Men’s open state championships in recent years.

The team has racked up a few second placings and plenty of thirds, however veteran player Wayne Prouten believes this is their year to claim first.

“We realise how hard it is to get there and we know what we need to do,” he said.

Prouten has played softball for Toowoomba for the past 20 years.

“I have always loved playing for Toowoomba. That’s where I’m from so there’s a bit of pride there,” he said.

“And I have always wanted to win the state champs.”

This weekend is Prouten’s chance as the Toowoomba team travels to Brisbane to compete against the best softballers in Queensland.

“We’re on the verge of something big this year. I just have a good feeling,” Prouten said.

The core group of players has been playing together for more than a decade.

However Prouten and the team will look to young players like Lewis Codd, BJ and Nick Davis, Alex Cleary and Dylan Sheehan to lead the team to glory.

“The young fellas are the game changers. They have that much talent they could win it for us,” Prouten said.

The Diamondbacks play their first game today with finals kicking off on Sunday at Redlands.